Cafeteria Catholic
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Cafeteria Catholic is a derogatory term used to describe certain members of the Catholic community who subscribe selectively only to certain parts of the faith, as a cafeteria-goer picks and chooses only those items that appeal to him or her.
The term has been in use since the issuance of Humanae Vitae, an official document which forbade practicing Catholics from using any form of artificial birth control. Many Catholics ignore such pronouncements, yet maintain their connection to the Church. Traditionalist Catholics have described such attitudes as heretical and even warranting excommunication.
While the term usually refers to Catholics who disagree with some aspect of the established teaching of the Church on faith or morals, Mainstream Catholics at times also apply the term to Traditionalist Catholics, claiming that some Traditionalists show a similar selectiveness in accepting changes in worship and discipline authorized by the Holy See since the Second Vatican Council.
Columnist Maureen Dowd said, in her column of the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, "the cafeteria is officially closed." Shortened to "The Cafeteria is Closed", the expression was taken up by many Catholics to express their hopes for this election.
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